# Why do hangnails only occur on the right side of my thumbnail?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hangnails-only-occur-on-the-right-side-of-my-thumbnail/518109
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 19, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hangnails-only-occur-on-the-right-side-of-my-thumbnail/518109 "2009-11-19T02:45:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hangnails-only-occur-on-the-right-side-of-my-thumbnail/518109/1 "2009-11-19T02:45:29Z")

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When I get hangnails, they only occur on the right side of my thumbnail, but never on the left side. This is true on both hands. (I am left-handed, if that matters). Why only on the right side though? Is it common to only have hangnails on one side of the thumbnail and not the other?

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### Author: ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hangnails-only-occur-on-the-right-side-of-my-thumbnail/518109/2 "2009-11-19T13:58:12Z")

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Um, I’ve had hangnails on both sides of my thumbnail. So either you’re weird, or I am… 😃

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### Author: ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hangnails-only-occur-on-the-right-side-of-my-thumbnail/518109/3 "2009-11-19T14:24:47Z")

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you are flawed for life.

from what i’ve heard damage or malfunction of the nail growing area causes a thinness of the nail that is easily fractured. the edges can easily fracture with the grain so it doesn’t take much of a flaw to become evident.

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### Author: ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hangnails-only-occur-on-the-right-side-of-my-thumbnail/518109/4 "2009-11-21T02:53:43Z")

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That’s the side you chew on?

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### Author: ![ClevelandProud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@ClevelandProud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ClevelandProud)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hangnails-only-occur-on-the-right-side-of-my-thumbnail/518109/5 "2009-11-22T03:03:39Z")

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> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#):
>
> That’s the side you chew on?

Or the side that you start on when using a nail clipper?